THANKS, COACH
After heaving a pair of jumpers that overshot the target in their hame against Kia Sunday, Raymond Almazan got an earfull from coach Yeng Guiao.
“Sabi lang ni coach, wag ako mag-settle sa jump shots kasi yung dalawang tinira ko, sablay eh. Sabi nya, ‘Kahit ako, kaya kong gawin yan eh.’,” Almazan recounted.
That proved to be pivotal as the former Letran Knight came out big fir the Elasto Painters after that, as he scored eight straight points to thwart the Carnival’s rally and win, 119-99.
“Medyo nagising ng konti kasi nasigawan ako ni coach,” said Almazan with a smile.
Used as a help defender by Guiao to negate the presence of hulking Kia reinforcement PJ Ramos, the sophomore prospered in his 19 minutes on the floor as he finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in the win.
“Naisip ko, di na ako titira at sa loob na ako maglalaro. Di naman nagko-close out si PJ (Ramos) so bakit mo titirahan sa labas,” he said.
Almazan, though, did not discount the challenge posed by Ramos’ size, as he said, “NBA-caliber talaga yung ganun. Wala akong nakakatapat na ganun na sobrang laki at sobrang bigat. Kahit anong tulak, di mo maitulak.”
But above all of the big numbers he posted on Sunday, the one person who pushed Almazan to perform at this level is the same person who shouts at him in the huddle and even in practices.
“Pinagpapasalamat ko talaga ‘to kay coach Yeng kasi kung di nya ako pinick, wala rin ako dito. Yung magandang laro, naguumpisa yan sa practice, lumalabas na lang sa game yan,” he said. “Every time na ginagamit nya ako, naglalaro lang ako ng tama eh. Sa amin, walang nababangko so pag tinawag ka ni coach, all-out lang talaga.” (RL)
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